salak
Fruit
Is salak high in polyols?
Is salak high or low in polyols? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Compare salak across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why polyols food checker matters
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
- Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
- Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
Sensitivities
What salak contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where salak fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about salak
Salak is the Indonesian snake fruit, named for the reddish brown scaled skin that peels away like a reptile shed to reveal firm, ivory coloured lobes. The flavour is unusual and quite specific: sweet and sharply acidic at once, with a strong astringent pucker that comes from tannins and varies enormously with ripeness and cultivar. That astringency is the fruit trait most likely to matter, because it is what people notice and it is not something the trigger columns capture.
Watch for
- Every FODMAP column on this row is unrated rather than clean.Salak has not been tested, so a blank means unknown and a first serving is worth treating as a trial.
- Tannins drive the dry, puckering mouthfeel of underripe salak.Tannins bind iron and can upset an empty stomach, and they are also why an unripe fruit tastes so different from a ripe one of the same variety.
- Graded moderate on salicylate and on SIBO fermentation, with mild marks for oxalate, nickel, glutamate and histamine liberation.
- Ripeness changes the fruit substantially.Salak pondoh is eaten crisp and barely sweet; other cultivars are left to soften and sweeten. Neither is wrong, but they are quite different eating experiences from the same slug.
- The thin brown membrane clinging to the flesh is bitter and is usually rubbed off.Leaving it on is a common reason a first salak tastes unpleasantly astringent.
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Polyols Guide
Everything you need to know about polyols sensitivity and smart food choices.
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Polyols sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in polyols and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Polyols, consider these strategies:
- 1Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- 2Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- 3Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
- 4Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- 5Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is salak high in Polyols?
Polyols: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.
Can I still eat salak if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.
What else should I check?
Check Keto, Low-carb, and Low Fibre next for a fuller picture.